Genetic system for promoting recombination and gene transfer in wheat

ABSTRACT

Wheat lines comprising homoeologous pairing promoter genes from chromosome 5Mg from Ae. geniculata and methods of inducing homoeologous recombination in plant breeding from these lines.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/405,375, filed Oct. 7, 2016, entitledGENETIC SYSTEM FOR PROMOTING RECOMBINATION AND GENE TRANSFER IN WHEAT,incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to new wheat genetic stocks for inducinghomoeologous recombination events in wheat breeding, and methods andproducts relating to the same.

Description of Related Art

Pairing and recombination among homoeologous chromosomes in wheat andthose of its wild relatives is tightly controlled by various geneticmechanisms. Two chromosomes are said to be “homeologous” or“homoeologous” when they are derived from two different genomes, butshare characteristics such as similar nucleotide sequences, usuallyindicating some original ancestral homology, such that they areconsidered partially homologous. One gene locus, pairing homoeologousgene (Ph1), which resides on the long arm of chromosome 5B in Triticumaestivum and Triticum turgidum, exerts major control by preventing thepairing of homoeologous chromosomes (e.g., chromosome 1A pairing with 1Bof wheat or pairing of 1B of wheat with 1R of rye). Ph1 is a dominantallele, such that a single functional copy is usually sufficient toprevent homoeologous pairing. Induced mutations in this gene, such asthe recessive null mutation ph1b, interfere with the function of Ph1,such that homoeologous chromosomes can pair at variable (albeitextremely low) frequency and efficiency, resulting in crossing-over andexchange of genetic material. This process is referred to in the art as“homoeologous translocation” or “homoeologous recombination” (forcrossovers from different species). Breeding lines containing ph1b orsimilar impaired Ph1 functions have been used to introduce into wheatchromosomes useful genes from chromosomes of related species. Forexample, when ph1b is in the homozygous condition, homoeologous pairingwill occur (i.e., chromosome 1A can pair and recombine with 1B or 1D ofwheat or 1R of rye). When alien chromosomes are present, recombinationcan occur between an alien chromosome and wheat homoeologues (i.e.,wheat chromosomes 1A 1B or 1D can pair and recombine with 1R of rye) (orpossibly even between an alien chromosome and alien homoeologues).

However, recombination frequencies using these approaches are notoriousfor being extremely low, with a 1% recombination frequency in resultingprogeny being considered a high effective crossover event. Mostcrossover events have even lower frequencies of 0.001% or less. Thus, itwill be appreciated that the process of introducing desired traits intowheat can be tedious and require numerous generations to achieve. Thereremains a critical need for improved approaches to induce higher orderrecombination among homoeologous chromosomes for the efficientproduction of wheat-alien recombinant chromosomes in wheat breedingtechniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is broadly concerned with new wheat breedingmethods and the development of a homoeologous pairing promotor(Hpp-5^(M)g) chromosome harboring promoter genes that enhancehomoeologous pairing and crossover during breeding. Aegilops geniculataRoth is a tetraploid wild relative of wheat that has been studied as asource of disease and pest resistance traits. The sequence data for thefull chromosome 5M^(g) from Ae. geniculata is available from theSequence Read Archive SRA database with accession number: SRX1167449,incorporated by reference herein. Sequence data from the 5M^(g) shortarm (5M^(g)S) is available from SRA with accession no: SRX474187,incorporated by reference herein. Chromosome 5 of Ae. genculata wasoriginally under investigation because it also harbors genes fordesirable resistance traits to be introduced into wheat. Three genes,Lr57 (leaf rust), Yr40 (yellow rust) and Sr53 (ug99) have been mapped onchromosome 5M^(g) #2 of Ae. geniculata (TA10437), and a cytologicalmarker (TR-14 repeat) for identifying 5M^(g) chromosome have beenreported in Tiwari et al., 84 The Plant Journal 733-746 (2015). SeeFIG. 1. It was unexpectedly determined that 5M^(g) itself harborspromoter genes that can enhance homoeologous pairing and crossover (forother genes) during breeding when introduced into wheat backgrounds.Tiwari et al. also describe the sequence assembly and analysis ofchromosome 5M^(g), which is incorporated by reference in its entiretyherein. Disomic substitution line DS5M^(g)(5D) (accession no: TA6675)described herein are maintained by the Wheat Genetics Resource Center atKansas State University, www.k-state.edu/wgrc/.

Embodiments described herein concern a genetic system in wheat thatpromotes homoeologous recombination and negative interference leading tomultiple recombination events per chromosome pair and, in addition,leads to recombination in proximal regions of chromosomes whererecombination is highly suppressed, releasing previously inaccessiblegenetic variation for crop improvement programs. Hpp-5M^(g)-basedchromosome manipulation is a new process and breeding scheme and hasimmediate application in wheat crop improvement programs. A breedingtechnique proving the utility of the method is demonstrated herein. Wehave shown that in plants, lacking the Ph1 gene (homozygous ph1bph1b)and having one dose of chromosome 5M^(g), and one dose of wheathomoeolog 5D, the frequency of recombination between homoeologouschromosomes of wheat and alien species (in this case 5M^(g) and 5D) issignificantly increased. In addition, the work demonstrates clusteringof multiple crossovers close to each other (negative crossoverinterference) and recombination events in proximal chromosome regionswhere recombination is usually suppressed. This work has multiple uses,including accessing agronomically-useful genes from wild relatives'genomes to enhance the genetic diversity of wheat; and enhancing therecombination potential for efficient breeding.

In one aspect, wheat plant genetic stocks or new wheat lines forinducing homoeologous recombination in plant breeding are disclosed. Thewheat genetic starting stock comprises chromosome 5M^(g) from Ae.geniculata and at least one chromosome bearing a pairing (Ph) gene whichis not functioning. In some aspects, the plant comprises two ph1b mutantalleles.

Methods of inducing homoeologous recombination in wheat breeding arealso described. The methods generally comprise crossing a wheat startingstock according to embodiments described herein with a source plant thatcomprises one or more target genes for recombination with one or morewheat chromosomes. Progeny from this cross is then selected withcomprises a chromosome comprising one or more of the target genestransferred in a homoeologous recombination event during the crossing.Exemplary plants produced in accordance with the invention includeHpp-5M^(g)/5D, ph1b/ph1b.

Thus, described herein is a wheat genetic stock resulting from methodsapplied herein, Hpp-5M^(g)/5D, ph1bph1b for inducing homoeologousrecombination in plant breeding, wherein the wheat genetic stockcomprises chromosome 5M^(g) from Ae. geniculata and two ph1b mutantalleles.

Seeds and wheat grain kernels produced according to the methods hereinare also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 shows images of chromosome 5M^(g) specific localization ofcytological marker TR-14 repeat, where the arrows indicate chromosome5M^(g) in (a) Ae. geniculata; and (b) disomic substitution lineDS5M^(g)(5D).

FIG. 2. shows images of GISH patterns of mitotic metaphase cell ofplants (a) double monosomic for 5M^(g) #1 and 5D; and (b) doublemonosomic for rec5M^(g)2 and 5D, labeled with genomic Ae. comosa DNA(green) and Ae. tauschii DNA (red). Arrows indicate the 5M^(g)chromosome. Bars=10 μm.

FIG. 3 shows images of synaptic association of homoeologous chromosomes(5M^(g)/5D) in meiotic prophase I of wheat plants double monosomic forchromosomes 5M^(g) and 5D. a-b: complete synaptic association atmid-pachytene (a) and late-pachytene (b) between chromosomes 5M^(g) #1and 5D. The insert shows the GISH pattern of the distal region ofhomoeology of chromosomes 5M^(g) #1(green) and 5D (Red); c-d: 5M^(g) #1univalent at mid-pachytene (c) and late-pachytne (d); e: 5M^(g) #1univalent (arrow) at late-diplotene; f: chromosome painting using totalgenomic DNA of Ae. comosa, the donor of the M genome of Ae. geniculataas a probe labeled with rhodamine and visualized in red fluorescence;(g): chromosome painting using total genomic DNA of Ae. comosa labeledwith fluorescein and visualized with green fluorescence and totalgenomic DNA of Ae. tauschii, the D-genome donor of wheat, visualized inred fluorescence. Wheat chromosomes were counterstained with DAPI andfluoresce blue. Arrows in figs (f) and (g) point to the distal region of5M^(g) #2. h-j: complete synaptic association (94.6%) at mid-pachytene(h), late-pachytene (i), and mid-diplotene (j) between chromosomes5M^(g) #2 and 5D. The insert shows the distal region of chromosomes5M^(g) #2 and 5D. Note that the distal 4.7% of the long arm of 5M^(g) #2is derived from 5DL. Chromosome 5M^(g) was labeled with fluorescein andfluoresces green, and the D-genome chromosomes were labeled withrhodamine and fluoresces red (except for fig. f). Chromosomes of the Aand B genomes of wheat were stained with DAPI and fluoresce blue.Arrowheads in (h) and (i) point to the transition of the distal regionof 5DL homology and the proximal homoeologous synapsis between 5M^(g) #2and 5D. Arrows in c, d, and e indicate 5M^(g) #1 chromosomes and thearrowhead in (e) represents chromosome 5D of wheat.

FIG. 4 shows images of homoeologous metaphase I pairing betweenchromosomes 5M^(g) and 5D of wheat plants double monosomic forchromosomes 5M^(g) and 5D. a: 5M^(g) #1 (arrow) and 5D (arrowhead) asunivalent (93.3%); b-c: rod and ring bivalents (6.7%) involving 5M^(g)#1 and 5D; d: rec5M^(g) #2 (arrow) and 5D (arrowhead) as univalents(16.7%); e-h: rec5M^(g) #2/5D bivalent with terminal chiasmata (61.7%)(e), and proximal and interstitial chiasmata (f, g, and h) (21.7%). Notethat proximal and interstitial chiasmata between chromosomes 5M^(g) #1and 5D were never observed.

FIG. 5 illustrates the chromosome constitution and chiasmate pairinginvolving wheat chromosome 5D (white) with Ae. geniculata chromosomes5M^(g) #1 (hatch marks), 5M^(g) #2, and the derived wheat-Ae. geniculatarecombinant chromosomes R1 to R6, for the data presented in Table 4.

FIG. 6 shows a graph of distribution of crossovers involving chromosomes5M^(g) #1 and 5D (black bars) and rec5M^(g) #2 and 5D (grey bars).Numbers on the Y-axis represent the relative chromosomal position (%) ofCOs from the telomere (bottom; FL 0.9-1.0) to the centromere (top; FL0.0-0.09) and the number on the X-axis represents the number ofcrossovers observed. Recombinant chromosomes used for calculatingcrossover distribution are presented in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B.

FIG. 7 show images of recombinants involving chromosomes 5M^(g) #1 orrec5M^(g) #2 and 5D recovered in the progenies of plants doublemonosomic for chromosomes 5M^(g) #1 and 5D (a), or rec5M^(g) #2 and 5D(b), in the presence of Ph1 gene. Eleven (10.0%, n=110) recombinantswere recovered involving chromosomes 5M^(g) #1 and 5D, and 26 (24.8%,n=106) involving chromosomes rec5M^(g) #2 and 5D. 5M^(g) chromatin wasvisualized in green and 5D chromatin in red.

FIG. 8 shows images of synaptic association and meiotic metaphase Ipairing involving different 5M^(g) #2 recombinants and 5D chromosome ofwheat. Almost complete synaptic association (>90%) between 5M^(g) #2recombinants (R1-R5 in Table 4) and 5D was observed in all cases.Inserts in (a-e) show the different types of 5M^(g) #2/5D recombinantchromosomes used. a1, b1, c1, d1 and e1 show chiasmata within homologous5D/5D regions; a2, b2, c2, d2 and e2 show chiasmata within homoeologous5M^(g) #2/5D regions. Arrowheads represent the centromeres. Green arrowsindicate transition point between 5M^(g)-5D (proximal) 5D-5D distalassociations. Red arrows indicate the heterochromatic knobs located on5DL of wheat. Chromosome 5M^(g) was labeled with fluorescein andfluoresces green, and the D-genome chromosomes were labeled rhodamineand fluoresce red. Chromosomes of the A and B genomes of wheat werestained with DAPI and fluoresce blue.

FIG. 9 shows images of a GISH pattern of mitotic metaphase (a) andmeiotic pachytene chromosomes (b) of the wheat plants double monosomicwheat-Ae. speltoides translocation chromosome T7SL•7SS-7AS and 7A; b:complete synaptic association (98%, n=100) between 7A (visualized ingreen) and T7SL•7SS-7AS (red); c: ideogram showing chromosome 7A andT7SL•7SS-7AS. The white arrowhead points to the centromere and the redarrow to 7A-7S translocation point.

FIG. 10A shows images of recombinants recovered in the progeny of plantsdouble monosomic for rec5M^(g) #2 (R5) and 5D. Nineteen recombinants(24.3%, n=78) were recovered. 5M^(g) chromatin was visualized in greenand 5D chromatin as red.

FIG. 10B is a graph of the crossover distribution in recombinantsderived from R5/5D (dark gray bars) and from 5M^(g) #2/5D plants (lightgray bars).

FIG. 11A-C shows images of homoeologous metaphase I pairing betweenchromosomes rec5M^(g) #2 and 5S^(s) of Ae. searsii (a and b), andrecombinant chromosomes recovered in the progeny (c). a: 5M^(g) #2 and5S^(s) univalents (91%); b: chiasmate association (9.0%) at MI; c:recombinants (6.7%, n=56) derived from homoeologous recombination ofrec5M^(g) #2 (visualized in green) and 5S^(s) (visualized in red) in a-1left, and vice versa in b-1 right.

FIG. 11D-E shows images of metaphase I pairing of plants doublemonosomic for chromosomes 5D and 5S^(s) of Ae. searsii, no chiasmateassociation was observed (0.0%, n=120). e: meiotic metaphase I of plantsdouble monosomic for chromosomes 7M^(g) of Ae. geniculata and 7D ofwheat showing univalent and very few chiasmate associations (0.4%,n=237).

FIG. 12 shows images of metaphase I pairing in a F₁ plant [DS5M^(g)#1(5D)×Secale cereale, 2n=2x=14, RR]. a: mitotic chromosome constitutionshowing seven rye chromosomes (red), 20 A-, B-, and D-genome wheatchromosomes (blue), and one 5M^(g) #1 chromosome (green); b: chiasmateassociation (1.5%, n=130) between chromosome 5M^(g) #1 and chromosome 5Rof rye; c: chiasmate association between chromosome 5M^(g) #1 and achromosome (5A or 5B) of wheat; d: chiasmate association (3.8%, n=130)between one rye chromosome and one wheat chromosome. W and R representthe wheat and rye chromosomes, respectively.

FIG. 13 shows images of homoeologous metaphase I pairing in the F₁plants of (Chinese Spring wheat×Ae. geniculata). a-b: A-, B-, andU-genome chromosomes are visualized in blue and wheat D-genome and Ae.geniculata M-genome chromosome in red and green, respectively, in a andb. Sequential GISH/FISH using genomic DNA of Ae. umbellulata and theD-genome specific repetitive DNA probe pAs1 were used to identify U- andD-genome chromosomes (c-d). a: homoeologous metaphase I pairing between5M^(g) #1 and 5D (3.4%, n=114) (white signal marked by green arrowidentifies repetitive DNA that is abundant in chromosome 5M^(g) #1,unpublished). Four different types of chiasmate associations wereidentified type a: wheat-wheat (W-W), type b: wheat-M genome (W-M), typec: M genome-U genome (M-U), and type d: U genome-wheat (U-W).

FIG. 14 illustrates a model for inducing homoeologous recombinationbetween wheat and alien chromosomes in the presence of 5M^(g) andabsence of Ph1 (ph1bph1b). A wheat-alien substitution line is crossedwith the ph1b mutant stock and then crossed with plants comprising5M^(g) and ph1b. Progeny plants heterozygous for the alien chromosomeand for 5M^(g) are selected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Bread wheat, Triticum aestivum L., is a hexaploid species, 2n=6x=42,having seven A genome-, seven B genome-, and seven D genome-chromosomepairs. The A-, B-, and D-genome chromosomes are genetically related,however a gene on the long arm of chromosome 5B, (Ph1, Pairinghomoeologous) ensures that only genetically closely related homologouschromosomes (1A with 1A, 1B with 1B, 1D with 1D) can pair and recombine,which results in a diploid inheritance. The process of chromosomesegregation and recombination during meiosis produces genetic variationthat forms the basis of plant and animal breeding programs for selectionof superior cultivars or breeds for commerce. However, as noted above,the process of recombination is highly regulated to two to three events(called crossovers) per chromosome pair due to the phenomenon ofinterference (positive) and is usually restricted to distal regions ofchromosomes. In addition, in interspecific hybrids where chromosomes arediverged (described as homoeologous chromosomes), recombination isusually suppressed and gene transfer may not be feasible.

The Triticeae tribe to which wheat belong contains several hundredspecies. The few species that are the direct ancestors of wheat have thesame genomic composition as that of wheat (called primary gene pool). Inthe hybrids of primary gene pool species with wheat, the chromosomes ofwheat and alien species can pair and undergo homologous recombination.However, the majority of alien species carry genomes different fromwheat and form the tertiary gene pool. Gene transfer from distantlyrelated species of the tertiary gene pool to wheat cannot be achievednormally by homologous recombination because the Ph1 gene on chromosomearm 5BL suppresses homoeologous recombination (allows only homologouschromosomes to pair and recombine) and hence gene transfer.

Interference with or deletion of Ph1 gene of wheat, such as in themutant stock ph1bph1b, allows genetically more distantly relatedhomoeologous chromosomes of wheat and other species (i.e., alienchromosomes) to pair and recombine permitting limited gene transfer.Thus, for example, 1A with 1B, or 1D, or 1R of rye, or 1H of barley, canpair and recombine. Currently, gene ph1b □induced homoeologousrecombination is used to transfer agronomically important genes fromspecies of the tertiary gene pool (they carry genomes other than the A,B or D genome of wheat) into cultivated wheat. However, the frequency ofph1b□induced homoeologous recombination is extremely low and is usuallyrestricted to distal regions of chromosomes. The recombination issuppressed in proximal chromosome regions (those closer to thecentromere) and genes located in these regions cannot be transferred byinduced homoeologous recombination.

Described herein is chromosome 5M^(g) from Ae. geniculata Roth (TA2899or TA10437), which escapes the diploid pairing control and freelyrecombines with homoeologous 5D chromosomes of wheat in the presence ofPh1, even in proximal chromosome regions where recombination is usuallysuppressed. Furthermore, 5M^(g) in the absence of a functional Ph1dramatically enhances both the frequency as well as pattern ofph1b-induced recombination events for other chromosomes, includingrecombination in proximal chromosomal regions (close to the centromere).Thus, proximal regions of chromosome halves can recombine in resultingHpp-5M^(g)/5D, ph1b/ph1b genotypes (progeny). Not only that, butnormally the presence of one crossover suppresses the occurrence ofanother nearby as part of a phenomenon termed negative interference.However, in Hpp-5M^(g)/5D, ph1b/ph1b genotypes also this process breaksdown and results in the clustering of several crossover or recombinationevents close to each other. This opens the possibility of producingwheat alien transfers with small alien segments and thereby reducinglinkage drag cause by the presence of deleterious alien genes. This newstrategy is described in detail herein.

It will be appreciated that this is a completely new system to inducehomoeologous recombination between wheat and alien chromosomes and at amuch higher level than possible previously. This strategy canrevolutionize the transfer of alien genes from the tertiary gene pool,make it more efficient and allow also the transfer of alien genes thatare located in proximal chromosome regions. The proposed strategy willalso greatly impact wheat crop improvement by unlocking previouslyinaccessible regions of new genetic variation.

In the embodiments describe here, chromosome 5M^(g) transferred from Ae.geniculata into wheat harbors homoeologous recombination promotorgene(s) that increase the frequency of homoeologous recombinationbetween chromosomes of wheat and alien species, especially when combinedwith genotypes lacking a functional Ph1 gene. In addition, the systemallows for the clustering of multiple crossovers close to each otherapparently due to a gene(s) that promotes negative crossoverinterference. Furthermore, recombination events can also occur inproximal chromosome regions where recombination is usually suppressed.These are completely new findings in the field of biology and can beused to produce new genetic variation, which could not be done withexisting methods.

In one or more embodiments, new wheat starting lines or genetic stocksare described, which can be used to induce and enhance homoeologousrecombination events in plant breeding. Thus, the starting lines arepreferably capable of serving as a parent for breeding stable wheatcultivars. The wheat starting stock comprises at least a portion ofchromosome 5M^(g) from Ae. geniculata and at least one chromosomebearing a pairing (Ph) gene which is not functioning. Preferably, theentire 5M^(g) chromosome has been introduced into the starting stockline; however, it will be appreciated that recombinant versions of thechromosome may be sufficient provided that the chromosome retains one ormore native homoeologous pairing promotor gene(s) from 5M^(g) of Ae.geniculata. For example, in some cases, introduction of 5M^(g) into thewheat background line yields one or more translocated wheat genes indistal regions of the transferred 5M^(g) chromosome in the startingstock. Such lines may nonetheless be suitable for use in the invention.In the wheat starting stock, 5M^(g) pairs with wheat 5D chromosome.Preferably, the wheat starting stock is heterozygous for 5M^(g)/5D. Thewheat starting stock includes a non-functioning Ph gene, and preferablycomprises the mutant homoeologous-pairing allele ph1b; however, it isappreciated that other approaches may be used to interfere with thenative function of Ph1 in the starting stock. In one or moreembodiments, the starting stock is heterozygous for the allelesPh1/ph1b. The starting stock wheat plant is preferably based upon aTriticum aestivum background; however, other wheat species may be used.In one or more embodiments, the starting stock is the progeny fromcrossing disomic substitution line DS5M^(g)(5D) (accession no: TA6675)with a homozygous ph1b mutant line.

The starting stock can be used in traditional plant breeding techniquesto enhance the frequency of recombination events during plant crossing.In one or more embodiments, methods for inducing homoeologousrecombination in wheat breeding are described. The methods generallyinvolve crossing the wheat starting stock with a plant that contains oneor more target genes desired for introduction into the wheat line. Thesource plant containing one or more target genes desired forintroduction include progeny from crossing a ph1bph1b mutant stock withwheat-alien introgression stock. A variety of plants (e.g., wheat-alienintrogression stocks) may be used as the source for the target genes, solong as they are capable of crossbreeding with wheat, such as othercereals, grasses, etc. Exemplary source plants include other wheat ornon-wheat lines harboring desirable traits. The source plant may beheterozygous or homozygous for the target gene. The source plant mayinclude a functional Ph1 allele. The source plant may also include achromosome bearing a pairing (Ph) gene which is not functioning,comprises the mutant homoeologous-pairing allele ph1b. The source plantmay be heterozygous for Ph1/ph1b or homozygous for ph1b/ph1b.

During crossing one or more homoeologous chromosomes from each parentalline pair up and one or more target genes is translocated from onechromosome to the other. The resulting progeny can be selected usingconventional sorting techniques to identify progeny that comprises oneor more of the target genes transferred into the progeny plant in ahomoeologous recombination event during the crossing. The genesintroduced via recombination may be alien genes resulting in one or morerecombinant chromosomes in the progeny plant. In one or moreembodiments, the target gene that is transferred during therecombination event may be one that is/was located proximally (i.e.,near the centromere) of the chromosome. Alternatively, the target genemay be located on a distal region of the chromosome. Advantageously, themethods of the invention may involve two or more recombination events ina single cross. Thus, two or more genes may be transferred into thecrossing of the parental plant lines.

It will be appreciated that progeny seed which expresses the one or moretarget genes can be collected and grown into plants likewise expressingthe desired genes. Thus, progeny seeds and wheat grain kernels are alsocontemplated herein. The progeny plants are preferably heterozygous forchromosome 5M^(g)/5D, and homozygous for ph1b. Thus, it will beappreciated that the progeny can itself be used to propagate additionalrecombination events through subsequent breeding generations. The 5M^(g)chromosome is preferably stably incorporated into the new wheat lines.Thus, progeny such as Hpp-5M^(g)/5D, ph1bph1b can be used to inducehomoeologous recombination in plant breeding, where Hpp-5M^(g)/5D,ph1bph1b comprises chromosome 5M^(g) from Ae. geniculata and two ph1bmutant alleles. The Hpp-5M^(g)/5D, ph1bph1b genetic lines aredemonstrated as giving rise to significantly improved breeding outcomeswhen subsequently crossed with other plants (leading to additionalrecombination events).

Methods of the invention involving the 5M^(g) introduced into the wheatbackground permit a much higher rate or frequency of successfulrecombination events with each crossing or propagation step. That is, inone or more embodiments, the frequency of a successful recombination ofthe target gene is preferably at least about 2% and more preferably atleast about 4%, depending upon the locus of the gene to be transferred(where distal genes have a higher recombination frequency). It will beappreciated that such frequencies of achieving a successfulrecombination event are orders of magnitude higher than achieved withprior breeding techniques. In one or more embodiments, the frequency ofrecombination events in crossing the parental lines according to theinvention is at least twenty-five times greater than recombination ofthe target gene when crossed with a wheat starting stock (such asph1bph1b mutant stock) in the absence of the 5M^(g) chromosome, andpreferably at least about fifty times higher.

The approaches described herein can be used to introduce a variety ofdesirable traits into wheat. Examples of desirable traits that can betransferred via a recombination event into the progeny plants includerust resistance, mildew resistance, and the like.

Additional advantages of the various embodiments of the invention willbe apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosureherein and the working examples below. It will be appreciated that thevarious embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutuallyexclusive unless otherwise indicated herein. For example, a featuredescribed or depicted in one embodiment may also be included in otherembodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the presentinvention encompasses a variety of combinations and/or integrations ofthe specific embodiments described herein.

As used herein, the phrase “and/or,” when used in a list of two or moreitems, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itselfor any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed.For example, if a composition is described as containing or excludingcomponents A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain or exclude Aalone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination;B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

The present description also uses numerical ranges to quantify certainparameters relating to various embodiments of the invention. It shouldbe understood that when numerical ranges are provided, such ranges areto be construed as providing literal support for claim limitations thatonly recite the lower value of the range as well as claim limitationsthat only recite the upper value of the range. For example, a disclosednumerical range of about 10 to about 100 provides literal support for aclaim reciting “greater than about 10” (with no upper bounds) and aclaim reciting “less than about 100” (with no lower bounds).

EXAMPLES

The following examples set forth methods in accordance with theinvention. It is to be understood, however, that these examples areprovided by way of illustration and nothing therein should be taken as alimitation upon the overall scope of the invention.

Example 1 Introduction

Meiotic recombination is central to evolution, speciation, plantbreeding, and crop improvement. The meiotic recombination process isinitiated by the formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by theknown protein, Spol1. Double-strand breaks are essential for promotingpairing and synapsis of homologous chromosomes in plants, fungi, andmammals Meiotic recombination results in the formation of cytologicalstructures known as chiasmata at the sites of genetic crossovers. Theformation of at least one chiasma between homologous chromosome pairs(the obligate genetic crossover) is essential for accurate chromosomesegregation at the first meiotic division and genetic recombination.

Polyploid organisms with multiple sets of homoeologous chromosomes haveevolved additional mechanisms for regulating homoeologous chiasmatemetaphase I pairing (hereafter referred to as homoeologous metaphase Ipairing) and genetic recombination. Pairing among homoeologouschromosomes must be suppressed and restricted to homologous chromosomepairs to ensure full fertility and fixing of hybrid vigor in polyploidorganisms, a major advantage that preserves hybridity (homoeolociheterozygosity). In hexaploid wheat, Triticum aestivum L. (genomesAABBDD, 2n=6x=42), homoeologous metaphase I pairing is accomplished bypairing homoeologous (Ph) genes, with Ph1 having the largest effect onhomologous chiasmate metaphase I pairing (hereafter referred to ashomologous metaphase I pairing). The A, B, and D subgenomes of wheat areclosely related, but undergo strict homologous metaphase I pairing andonly bivalents are observed at metaphase I (MI) of meiosis, resulting indiploid inheritance.

Two deletions of the Ph1 locus have been previously developed, ph1b inhexaploid wheat, and in ph1c in tetraploid wheat (genomes AABB,2n=4x=28). In these mutants, homoeologous metaphase Ipairing/recombination also occurs and occasional multivalents areobserved. Two Ph1 candidate genes have been reported, namely cdc2 andC-Ph1. In addition to Ph1, a suppressor of homoeologous metaphase Ipairing has been identified as Ph2, located on the short arm ofchromosome 3D. Besides Ph1 and Ph2, a third suppressor has been detectedon the short arm of chromosome 3A.

The ovate goat grass Aegilops geniculata Roth. is a tetraploid(2n=4x=28, U^(g)U^(g)M^(g)M^(g)) wild relative of bread wheat.Spontaneous hybrids between wheat and Ae. geniculata and the possibilityof horizontal transgene escapes from cultivated to wild species havebeen reported. Meiotic metaphase I pairing analysis in wheat-Ae.geniculata hybrids revealed a low frequency of spontaneous wheat-Ae.geniculata chiasmate associations. Ae. geniculata is also an excellentsource of resistance genes to various diseases and pests, and severalgenes have been transferred to wheat, including the leaf rust and striperust resistance genes Lr57 and Yr40, and the powdery mildew resistancegene Pm29. Chromosome 5M^(g), the source of Lr57 and Yr40 also harborsstem rust resistance gene Sr53, which is effective against stem rustraces RKQQC and TTKSK (Ug99). A complete set of wheat-Ae. geniculatachromosome addition lines has been previously developed by Friebe et al.1999, Genome 42: 374-380. In recent work, during the transfer of Sr53into wheat, chromosome 5M^(g) freely recombined with chromosome 5D ofwheat, even in the presence of Ph1. Described herein are techniques forinduced homoeologous recombination, even in the presence of Ph1, due tothe presence of homoeologous recombination promotor gene(s) onchromosome 5M^(g) of Ae. geniculata.

Materials and Methods

Plant Material and Chromosome Painting.

The cytogenetic stocks and hybrid plants used in this study are listedin the tables below.

TABLE 1 Cytogenetic stocks used for studying homoeologous recombinationin wheat Chromosome Chromosome Accession number constitution DescriptionNA 42 DS5M^(g)#1(5D) One pair of 5D of wheat substituted by a pair of5M^(g)#1 from Ae. geniculata, TA2899 TA6675 42 DS5M^(g)#2(5D) One pairof 5D of wheat substituted by a pair of 5M^(g)#2 from Ae. geniculata,TA10437 TA6561 42 DS5S^(s)(5D) One pair of 5D of substituted by a pairof 5S^(s) from Ae. searsii TA7659 44 DA5M^(g)#1 Addition of a pair of5M^(g)#1 to Chinese Spring wheat TA3517 42 T7AS·7SS- One pair ofwheat-Ae. speltoides translocation 7SL chromosome, involving 7AS ofwheat and 7SS of Ae. speltoides substituting for chromosome 7A of wheat

TABLE 2 Plant materials including F1 hybrids used for studyinghomoeologous recombination in Chinese Spring (CS) wheat ChromosomeHybrid plant number Description P5M^(g)1 42 F₁, DS5M^(g)#1(5D)/CS.Double monosomic for chromosomes 5D of wheat and 5M^(g)#1 of Aegeniculata P5M^(g)2 42 F₁, DS5M^(g)#2(5D)/CS. Double monosomic forchromosomes 5D of wheat and 5M^(g)#2 of Ae geniculata R1 42 F₁,Rec#14/CS. Recombinant Rec#14 recovered in the progeny of P5M^(g)2 R2 42F₁, Rec#15/CS. Recombinant Rec#15 recovered in the progeny of P5M^(g)2R3 42 F₁, Rec#7/CS. Recombinant Rec#7 recovered in the progeny ofP5M^(g)2 R4 42 F₁, Rec#3/CS. Recombinant Rec#3 recovered in the progenyof P5M^(g)2 R5 42 F₁, Rec#3-1/CS. Recombinant Rec#3-1 recovered in theprogeny of F₁ [Rec#3 x DS5M^(g)#2(5D)] R6 42 F₁, Rec#1/CS. RecombinantRec#1 recovered in the progeny of P5M^(g)2 F₁ 42 Double monosomic forchromosomes 5M^(g)#2 and 5S^(s) of [DS5M^(g)#2 Ae. searsii(5D)]/[DS5S^(s)(5D)] F₁ 42 Double monosomic for chromosomes 5D and5S^(s) [CS/DS5S^(s)(5D) F₁ 28 Haploid chromosome complement of wheat(minus [DS5M^(g)#1(5D)/ 5D + 5M^(g)#1) and rye rye] F₁ 35 Haploidchromosome complement of wheat and Ae. (CS/Ae. geniculata geniculata) F₁42 Double monosomic for T7AS·7SS-7SL and 7A [CS/DST7AS·7SS- 7SL(7A)]Preparations of mitotic and meiotic chromosomes followed publishedprotocols (Koo and Jiang 2009, Plant J. 59:509-516). Briefly, root tipswere collected from plants and treated in a nitrous oxide gas chamberfor 2 h. The root tips were fixed overnight in a 3:1 ethanol:glacialacetic acid and then squashed in a drop of 45% acetic acid. For meioticchromosome preparations, anthers were squashed in 45% acetic acid on aslide and checked under a phase microscope. All slides were stored at−70° C. until use. The chromosome painting procedure was according to apreviously published protocol (Zhang et al. 2001, Chromosoma110:335-344). The genomic DNA painting probes used in this study arelisted in the table below.

TABLE 3 Plant materials used in preparing the chromosome painting probesSpecies Accession Ploidy Genome T. monococcum TA4342L96 2x A Ae.speltoides TA1789 2x S Ae. searsii TA2355 2x S^(s) Ae. tauschii TA24502x D Ae. comosa TA2735 2x M Ae. umbellulata TA1851 2x U Secale cerealeNA 2x R T. aestivum TA3008 6x ABDProbes were labeled with either digoxigenin-11-dUTP or biotin-16-dUTPaccording to the manufacturer's instructions (Roche). Unlabeled totalgenomic wheat DNAs were used as a blocker. After post-hybridizationwashes, the probes were detected with Alexafluor 488 streptavidin(Invitrogen, Grand Island, N.Y.) for biotin-labeled probes, andrhodamine-conjugated anti-digoxigenin (Roche, Indianapolis, Ind.) fordig-labeled probes. Chromosomes were counterstained with4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) in Vectashield antifade solution(Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, Calif.). The images were captured witha Zeiss Axioplan 2 microscope using a cooled CCD camera Cool SNAP HQ2(Photometrics, Tucson, Ariz.) and AxioVision 4.8 software (Carl ZeissMicroscopy LLC, Thornwood, N.Y.). The final contrast of the images wasprocessed using Adobe Photoshop CS5 software. Chromosome measurementswere done by Image J software.

Results and Discussion

Two 5M^(g) #1 and 5M^(g) #2 chromosomes from different Ae. geniculataaccessions were used and isolated as disomic chromosome substitutionlines DS5M^(g) #1(5D) and DS5M^(g) #2(5D) where 5D was substituted by5M^(g) (Table 1). To investigate the meiotic behavior of chromosomes5M^(g) and 5D, each of the two substitution lines was crossed withChinese Spring (CS) wheat. The F₁ hybrids were double monosomic for5M^(g) and 5D, hereafter designated as P5M^(g)1 and P5M^(g)2 (Table 2).The chromosome constitution of each F₁ plant was confirmed by genomic insitu hybridization (GISH) using genomic DNA of Ae. tauschii Coss.(D-genome donor of wheat) to paint the D-genome chromosomes, including5D, and genomic DNA of Ae. comosa Sm. in Sibth. & Sm. (the M-genomedonor of Ae. geniculata) to paint chromosome 5M^(g) (FIG. 2).Chromosomes 5M^(g) #1 and 5M^(g) #2 appeared to have maintained theirstructural integrity, as observed at mitotic metaphase during theirisolation as additions to wheat (FIG. 2). However, pachytene analysis(see next section) indicated that although 5M^(g) #1 was intact, the tipof the long arm of 5M^(g) #2 was derived from the long arm of wheatchromosome 5D. Apparently, chromosomes 5M^(g) #2 and 5D underwent oneround of homoeologous pairing and recombination to produce therecombinant 5M^(g) #2 chromosome, designated as rec5M^(g) #2 hereafter,providing an opportunity to study the effect of terminal homology onhomoeologous metaphase I pairing and recombination in P5M^(g)2 comparedto the control P5M^(g)1.

Chromosome 5M^(g) #1 Pairs and Recombines with 5D of Wheat in thePresence of pH1.

First, GISH analysis on pachytene chromosomes in P5M^(g)1 was used toinvestigate the synaptic association between chromosomes 5M^(g) #1 and5D. We considered only mid-pachytene or late-pachytene chromosomes ashybridization targets, because the stickiness of chromosomes preventedthe differentiation of chromosomes 5M^(g) #1 and 5D at zygotene andearly pachytene stages. We observed that chromosomes 5M^(g) #1 and 5Dshowed complete synaptic association in 52.9% of pollen mother cells(PMCs) and stayed univalent in 47.1% of PMCs (n=87) (FIG. 3).

GISH analysis at MI of P5M^(g)1 showed that the frequency ofhomoeologous metaphase I pairing between chromosomes 5M^(g) #1 and 5Dwas 6.7% (n=130), whereas these chromosomes stayed univalent in 93.3% ofPMCs (FIG. 4 and Table 4).

TABLE 4 Frequency of homoeologous pachytene synapsis, chiasmate pairing,and recombination involving wheat chromosome 5D with Ae. geniculata5M^(g) chromosomes, and the derived wheat-Ae. geniculata recombinantchromosomes R1 to R6 Plant P5M^(g)2 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 5D (%)* P5M^(g)10L5 L19 L37 L50 L72 L5-S45 L5-L18 Synapsis (%) 52.9 94.6 90.6  93.8 98.1  97.5  100   — (n = 87) (n = 56) (n = 39) (n = 64) (n = 52) (n =40) (n = 55) Chiasmata (%) 5D-5M^(g)  6.7 21.7 4.8 2.8 1.5 0.8 22.9 —5D-5D 61.7 90.4  97.2  97.8  99.2  73.0 — Univalent 93.3 16.7 4.8 0.00.7 0.0  4.1 — (n = 130) (n = 120) (n = 124) (n = 106) (n = 137) (n =133) (n = 118) HR (%)** 10.0 24.8 4.1 2.0 0.0 0.0 24.3 4.0 (n = 110) (n= 106) (n = 74) (n = 50) (n = 73) (n = 50) (n = 78) (n = 100) —: Notdetermined *Percent of 5D chromatin on 5 Mg **Homoeologous recombination(HR) frequency determined by GISH in the progeny of each plant.We observed seven 5M^(g) #1/5D rod bivalents with end-to-endassociations and one ring bivalent out of 130 PMCs analyzed (FIG. 4).These results demonstrated that chromosome 5M^(g) #1 of Ae. geniculatarecombined with 5D of wheat in the presence of Ph1.

We then performed GISH analysis on mitotic metaphase chromosomes in thederived progenies, and identified 11 recombinants (10%) out of 110plants analyzed (FIGS. 5, 6, and 7), confirming that homoeologousrecombination between 5M^(g) #1 and 5D occurred in the presence of Ph1.

Terminal Homology Between Chromosomes rec5M^(g) #2 and 5D PromotesSynapsis and Increases Homoeologous Recombination Frequencies.

Two-color chromosome painting on pachytene chromosomes using aD-genome-specific probe labeled the terminal tip of the long arm ofrec5M^(g) #2, indicating that this region was actually derived from aD-genome chromosome, most likely from 5DL, and this chromosome wasdesignated as rec5M^(g) #2S•5M^(g) #2L-5DL (FIG. 3f, g ). Therecombinant nature of rec5M^(g) #2 was not detected by GISH of mitoticmetaphase chromosomes because of the small size of the 5DL segment (FIG.2b ). Measurements of three complete pachytene cells revealed that thesize of the 5DL segment was 4.7±0.5% of the long arm of rec5M^(g) #2.This small segment possibly was acquired during the development of thisgenetic stock as a result of recombination between 5D and 5M^(g) #2 asreported previously in hybrids between wheat and Ae. geniculata. On thecontrary, no Ae. tauschii-derived chromatin was identified in chromosome5M^(g) #1 (FIG. 3a ).

The synaptic association between rec5M^(g) #2 and 5D was 94.6% (n=56)compared to 52.9% between 5M^(g) #1 and 5D (FIG. 3 and Table 4). Theoverall metaphase I pairing between rec5M^(g) #2 and 5D was 83.4% (Table4). Two-color chromosome painting differentiated between homologous andhomoeologous metaphase I pairing (FIG. 4). The frequency of homologousmetaphase I pairing between 5D-5D was 61.7% (FIG. 4e ). Surprisingly, wealso observed metaphase I pairing in non-homologous interstitial andeven proximal regions in 21.7% of PMCs (n=120) (FIG. 4f-h ). Thisfrequency (21.7%) was approximately three-fold higher than that betweenof 5M^(g) #1 and 5D (6.7%). No multivalents involving homoeologous wheatchromosomes were detected, indicating that homoeologous metaphase Ipairing occurred only between 5M^(g) and 5D. In addition, the majorityof homologous chromosomes paired as ring bivalents with at least onechiasma per chromosome arm, which is similar to the metaphase I pairingobserved in plants without chromosome 5M^(g), suggesting that the effectof 5M^(g) is localized.

Next, we compared the distribution of genetic crossovers in 5M^(g) #1/5Dand rec5M^(g) #2/5D chromosome combinations (FIG. 6). We also determinedthe frequency of homoeologous recombination using GISH analysis onmitotic metaphase chromosomes in derived progenies (FIG. 7). In thestrictly homoeologous chromosome combination of 5M^(g) #1/5D, geneticcrossovers occurred in the distal half of the long arms with highestfrequencies in fraction length of 0.80-0.89% from the centromere(fraction length of centromere is zero) (FIG. 6). In the rec5M^(g) #2/5Dcombination, homoeologous recombination shifted to homoeologouscrossovers in 0.10-0.80% of fraction length with the highest frequencybetween 0.60-0.69% of fraction length. Four crossover sites were between0.10-0.29% of fraction length where recombination is known to besuppressed (FIGS. 6, 7).

To investigate further the question as to how homology at the chromosomeend influences the homoeologous recombination frequency, we isolatedseveral recombinants from the progenies of rec5M^(g) #2/5D plants withdifferent-sized terminal 5DL segments attached to 5M^(g) #2 ranging inlength from 18.7% (recombinant with breakpoint at fraction length0.81%), 36.6% (fraction length 0.63%), 50.4% (fraction length 0.50%), to72.0% (fraction length 0.28), designated as R1-R4, respectively (FIG. 8and Table 4). Our two-color chromosome painting unambiguouslydistinguished between the different types of recombinants (FIG. 8). TheF₁ hybrids of each recombinant with CS were developed and synapticassociations and homoeologous recombination between chromosomesrec5M^(g) #2 and 5D were determined (Table 4 and FIG. 8). In plant R1,we observed complete synapsis in 90.6% (n=39) (Table 4 and FIG. 8). Wealso analyzed synapsis in the R2-R4 plants. An overall high frequencyof >90% synapsis was observed in all recombinants, similar to the levelwe observed in the P5M^(g)2, which had 5% terminal homology with 5D ofwheat (FIG. 8 and Table 4). The results indicate that synapsis isindependent of the size of the homologous region and the presence of ahomologous region at the tip of a homoeologous chromosome pair issufficient for a high level of synapsis.

To further understand the synaptic behavior of homoeologous chromosomewith a region of homology at the tip of one chromosome arm, we analyzedthe synaptic behavior of a wheat-Ae. speltoides translocation,T7SL•7SS-7AS, consisting of the complete long arm of 7S, most of theshort arm of 7S (derived from Ae. speltoides), and approximately 10% ofthe distal segment derived from 7AS of wheat (FIG. 9). We observedalmost complete synaptic association (98.0%, n=100) between T7AS•7AL andT7SL•7SS-7AS chromosomes sharing only 10% homology at the 7AS tip,demonstrating that once synapsis is initiated in homologous regions, italso can extend into not only non-homologous but homoeologous regions.

Homoeologous metaphase I pairing is affected by the extent of homologyat the terminal regions. Meiotic pairing analysis revealed that withincreasing 5D wheat segments from 5% to 19-72% in rec5M^(g) #2derivatives, homoeologous metaphase I pairing decreased sharply from21.7% to values ranging from 4.8-0.8% (FIG. 8 and Table 4). Theseresults indicated that the level of homoeologous metaphase I pairing indifferent rec5M^(g) #2/5D recombinants (R1-R4) was inverselyproportional to the length of the shared wheat segment. Only P5M^(g)2and R5 hybrids, both of which had a very small (5%) distal segment of5DL, showed high homoeologous metaphase I pairing and a high frequencyof recombinants in the derived progenies suggesting that 5M^(g) #2recombinants with a small wheat segment at the tip have potential forhigh homoeologous recombination (Table 4). However, this is not ageneral phenomenon and was not observed in wheat-rye T1BL•1RS-1BStranslocations, consisting of the complete long arm of 1B, most of theshort arm of 1R (derived from rye, Secale cereale L.), and approximately1-5% distal segment derived from 1BS of wheat (data not shown), implyingthe presence of a homoeologous pairing promotor gene(s) in chromosome5M^(g).

On the other hand, studies of homoeologous synapsis using ZIP1 antibodyin wheat-rye hybrids with and without the Ph1 locus found a similaramount of synaptonemal complex components at meiotic prophase I betweenthe two F₁ hybrids. A similar number of AtMLH1 (Arabidopsis MutLhomologue-1, a marker for class-I interfering crossovers) sites in thehybrid plants with and without Ph1 locus were also observed, buthomoeologous recombination only occurred in plants without the Ph1locus.

Cytological Mapping of the Genetic Region Inducing Homoeologous Pairingand Recombination.

The drastic reduction in homoeologous metaphase I pairing andrecombination in rec5M^(g) #2 derivatives indicates that the genepromoting homoeologous metaphase I pairing and recombination may residein the distal region of 5M^(g). This gene is deleted in recombinants R1to R4, where greater than 5% of 5M^(g) is replaced by the 5DL segment ofwheat (Table 4). To further define the genetic region that affectshomoeologous metaphase I pairing, we analyzed two additionalrecombinants R5 and R6 recovered in the progeny of rec5M^(g) #2/5D withdifferent sized 5D segments (Table 4). In R5, the distal 5% of 5M^(g) #2long arm is derived from 5DL of wheat and the distal 45% of short arm isderived from 5DS of wheat. Most of the crossovers were detected betweenfraction length 0.83-0.15% region of the long arm of rec5M^(g) #2 (FIG.6). In R6, the complete short arm as well as the proximal 18% of thelong arm and the distal 5% of the long arm of 5M^(g) #2 are replaced byhomoeologous 5D wheat chromatin. We observed 100% synapsis between R5and 5D chromosomes (FIG. 8e and Table 4). Synapsis between R6 and 5D wasnot analyzed but it will be expected to be 100%. The frequency ofhomoeologous recombination in R5/5D hybrids was 24.3% (FIG. 10B)compared to 4.0% (n=100) in the R6/5D hybrids (Table 4). These resultsindicate the presence of a genetic factor promoting homoeologousrecombination in the centromeric 5M^(g) region encompassing 55% of theproximal short arm and 18% of its long arm. Our results further indicatethat, in addition to the homoeologous recombination promoting gene(s), asmall region of homology at the terminal end may further increase thelevel of homoeologous recombination by two-fold.

Chromosome 5M^(g) can Recombine with Group-5 Chromosomes of Other WildWheat Species in the Presence of pH1.

To study homoeologous recombination between 5M^(g) and otherhomoeologous group-5 chromosomes from Aegilops species, we crossed theDS5M^(g) #2(5D) substitution line with the wheat-Ae. searsii Feldman &Kislev ex K. Hammer DS5S^(s)(5D) substitution line. Surprisingly, 9.0%(n=100) metaphase I pairing was observed between homoeologouschromosomes rec5M^(g) #2 and 5S^(s) and 6.7% (n=56) wheat-Ae. searsiirecombinants were recovered in the derived progenies (FIG. 11A-C). Otheralien chromosomes were surveyed for the presence of homoeologousmetaphase I pairing promotor(s) similar to that of chromosome 5M^(g).Chiasmate metaphase I associations and recombination frequencies weredetermined in progenies derived from the cross DS5S^(s)(5D)×CS. Weobserved no chiasmate metaphase I associations (0.0%, n=120) orrecombinants (0.0%, n=56) between chromosome 5S^(s) and 5D (FIG. 11D-E).These results also demonstrate that the double monosomic condition ofchromosome 5D with other group-5 alien chromosomes did not affecthomoeologous recombination. Likewise, the analysis of chiasmatametaphase I pairing in the F₁ between DS7M^(g)(7D)/CS, where 7M^(g) and7D are in double monosomic condition, revealed only 0.4% homoeologousmetaphase I pairing (n=246) (FIG. 11D-E).

In the F₁ hybrid between DS5M^(g) #1(5D) and rye, we detectedhomoeologous metaphase I pairing of 1.5% (n=130) between 5M^(g) #1 andone of the rye chromosomes, most likely 5R. Homoeologous metaphase Ipairing between 5M^(g) #1 and one of the wheat chromosomes, most likely5A or 5B as well as wheat-wheat associations were also detected (FIG.12). In addition, homoeologous metaphase I pairing between one ryechromosome and one wheat chromosome was frequently observed (3.8%,n=130) (FIG. 12). Apart from 5M^(g) #1-rye chromosome association, the3.8% wheat-rye homoeologous metaphase I pairing frequency observed inthis study is much higher than those reported previously, where thefrequency of chromosome association at MI between wheat and rye wasabout 0.1%.

We also observed homoeologous metaphase I pairing at 3.4% (n=114)between chromosome 5M^(g) and chromosome 5D of wheat in F₁ hybridsbetween wheat and Ae. geniculata. Chiasmate associations betweenU-genome, M-genome, and wheat chromosomes were observed at highfrequency (FIG. 13). This is additional evidence of the presence ofhomoeologous pairing promotor gene(s) on chromosome 5M^(g).

CONCLUSIONS

Recombination between cultivated and alien chromosomes limits thetransfer of novel traits from wild relatives to wheat, because Ph1suppresses homoeologous recombination between wheat and its wildrelatives. In this study, we identified homoeologous recombinationbetween the chromosomes 5M^(g) of Ae. geniculata and 5D of wheat, aswell as group-5 chromosomes of wild wheat relatives, in plants where Ph1was fully active. This demonstrates that chromosome 5M^(g) harborsgenetic factor(s) that suppresses the homologous recombination in wheat,or otherwise promote homoeologous recombination Further cytogeneticanalysis, with varying 5M^(g)/5D recombinants, indicated that thehomoeologous recombination promoting factor(s) may be located in theproximal region of chromosome 5M^(g). Interestingly, higher frequency ofhomoeologous recombination and recombination at pericentromeric regionwere observed between chromosome 5M^(g) #2 and 5D of wheat as comparedwith those of between 5M^(g) #1 and 5D, is caused by a small terminalregion on 5M^(g) #2 derived from 5D. Chromosome 5M^(g) of Ae. geniculatais of particular interest as it harbors the leaf rust and stripe rustresistance genes, Lr57 and Yr40. We have recovered several 5M^(g)/5Dnovel recombinants that, together with the previously identifiedrecombinants, will also be useful in the fine mapping Lr57, Yr40, andSr53.

We observed a higher frequency of homoeologous recombination in thepericentromeric region between chromosome 5M^(g) #2 and 5D compared to5M^(g) #1/5D combination, which is caused by a small terminal region of5DL homology present in chromosome 5M^(g) #2. The recombinants obtainedin this study will be useful resource for wheat improvement.

Example 2

Proof of concept for enhancing homoeologous recombination between wheatand alien chromosomes was explored.

In the general approach, the disomic substitution DS5M^(g)(5D) line(TA6675) is first crossed with the homozygous ph1b stock. The TA6675line contains 20 pairs of wheat chromosomes and chromosome pair 5M^(g)from Ae. geniculata substituting for chromosome 5D of wheat. The F1 ofthe first cross will be heterozygous for chromosome 5M^(g)/5D andPh1ph1b. Separately, a homozygous ph1b stock is also crossed with plantshomozygous for the target alien chromosome(s). The F1 plants from thiscross will be heterozygous for Ph1ph1b and the target alienchromosome(s). After intercrossing both F1 s, genotypes will be selectedthat are homozygous for ph1bph1b and heterozygous for chromosomes5M^(g)/5D and the target alien chromosome(s).

For determining the efficiency of this novel strategy, we tested itsefficacy for promoting homoeologous recombination of wheat chromosomeswith two rye and Thinopyrum intermedium RobTs. Our new strategy forenhancing homoeologous recombination between wheat and alien chromosomesderived from wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) and rye is outlined inFIG. 14. First, the homozygous ph1b stock was crossed with the disomicsubstitution line DS5M^(g)(5D) (TA6675) (top left) to yield progeny thatwere heterozygous for chromosome 5M^(g)/5D and Ph1ph1b (middle left). InTh. intermedium, Wsm3 is present on the 7S #3L arm in the form of a RobTT7BS-7S #3L (top right). The H21 gene is present on 2RL rye arm in thewheat-rye Robertsonian translocation (RobT) chromosome T2BS•2RL (topright). All these wheat-alien introgression lines were crossed with theph1b stock (top right). The F1 plants from this cross were heterozygousPh1ph1b and for the alien RobT (middle right).

The F1s from each cross were then intercrossed (middle). In thesegenotypes homoeologous recombination was seen to occur at a higherfrequency and also in proximal chromosome regions where recombination isusually suppressed resulting in alien gene transfers as depicted (Bottompanel). Because the recombinant chromosomes carry smaller amount ofalien chromatin with the target gene, they are more likely to beagronomically useful.

The resulting plants were selected that are homozygous for ph1b, andheterozygous for 5M^(g) and the wheat alien transfer.

Using this approach, a 2% to 4% frequency of induced recombinants wereobtained for Wsm3 and 4.3% frequency of recombinants were obtained forH21. Unexpectedly, for Wsm3 this is a up to a 50 times higher frequencyof induced recombinants compared to using the ph1b mutant alone. Thisnovel strategy greatly enhances the efficiency of transfer ofagronomically useful traits from distantly related species belonging tothe tertiary gene pool into wheat. The method also allows the transferof genes that are located in proximal chromosome regions wererecombination is usually suppressed (and previously not feasible).

1. A wheat plant starting stock for inducing homoeologous recombinationin plant breeding, wherein said starting stock comprises chromosome5M^(g) from Ae. geniculata and at least one chromosome bearing a pairing(Ph) gene which is not functioning.
 2. The wheat plant starting stock ofclaim 1, wherein said at least one chromosome bearing a pairing (Ph)gene which is not functioning, comprises the mutant homoeologous-pairingallele ph1b.
 3. The wheat plant starting stock of claim 2, wherein saidstarting stock is heterozygous for Ph1ph1b.
 4. The wheat plant startingstock of claim 1, wherein said starting stock is heterozygous forchromosome 5M^(g)/5D.
 5. The wheat plant starting stock of claim 1,wherein said chromosome 5M^(g) is a recombinant chromosome comprisingone or more translocated wheat genes in distal regions of saidchromosome, provided that said chromosome retains one or more nativehomoeologous pairing promotor gene(s) from 5M^(g) of Ae. geniculata. 6.The wheat plant starting stock of claim 1, wherein said starting stockis capable of serving as a parent for breeding stable wheat cultivars.7. The wheat plant starting stock of claim 1, wherein said wheat plantis a Triticum aestivum background.
 8. A method of inducing homoeologousrecombination in wheat breeding, said method comprising: providing awheat starting stock according to claim 1; providing a source plantcapable of crossbreeding with wheat and comprising one or more targetgenes for recombination with one or more wheat chromosomes; crossingsaid wheat starting stock with said source plant; selecting progeny fromsaid crossing that comprises a chromosome comprising one or more of saidtarget genes transferred in a homoeologous recombination event duringsaid crossing.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said source plant isheterozygous from said one or more target genes.
 10. The method of claim8, wherein said source plant is a different species from said wheatstarting stock.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said source plant isa wheat cultivar.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein said source plantcomprises a functional Ph1 allele.
 13. The method of claim 8, whereinsaid source plant comprise at least one chromosome bearing a pairing(Ph) gene which is not functioning.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinsaid at least one chromosome bearing a pairing (Ph) gene which is notfunctioning, comprises the mutant homoeologous-pairing allele ph1b. 15.The method of claim 14, wherein said source plant is heterozygous forPh1/ph1b.
 16. The method of claim 8, comprising selecting said progenythat is homozygous for ph1b/ph1b.
 17. The method of claim 16, whereinsaid progeny is heterozygous for chromosome 5M^(g)/5D.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein said progeny comprises a recombinant chromosomecomprising one or more of said target genes.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising crossing said progeny with a plant capable ofcrossbreeding with wheat, wherein one or more of said target genes istransferred in a second homoeologous recombination event during saidcrossing of said progeny.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein saidtarget gene transferred during said second recombination event islocated in a region of the chromosome proximal to the centromere. 21.The method of claim 19, wherein a plurality of genes are transferred insaid second recombination event.
 22. The method of claim 19, comprisingtwo or more of said second recombination events.
 23. The method of claim19, wherein the frequency of second recombination events in saidcrossing is at least 3%.
 24. The method of claim 19, wherein thefrequency of second recombination events in said crossing is twenty-fivetimes greater than recombination of said target gene when crossed with awheat starting stock in the absence of said 5M^(g) chromosome.
 25. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising collecting the progeny seed fromsaid crossing and growing said seeds, thus producing progeny plantsexpressing said one or more of said target genes.
 26. The method ofclaim 25, wherein said one or more target genes confer a desirable traitto said progeny plants.
 27. A seed produced according to the method ofclaim
 8. 28. A wheat grain kernel produced according to the method ofclaim
 8. 29. A wheat genetic stock, Hpp-5M^(g)/5D, ph1bph1b, forinducing homoeologous recombination in plant breeding, wherein saidwheat genetic stock comprises chromosome 5M^(g) from Ae. geniculata andtwo ph1b mutant alleles.
 30. The wheat genetic stock of claim 29,further comprising one or more target genes for recombination with oneor more wheat chromosomes.